During our move abroad, I kept a journal. There were so many feelings I’d never felt before. New emotions that I was experiencing for very the first time. I wanted to remember exactly how I felt throughout the decision and preparation process. As we were buying tickets for our flight, packing up our apartment, saying goodbye.
I was going through some old journal entries the other day, and came across this one.
This was the exact moment when we finalized our flight to Austria.
When we clicked confirm on two one-way tickets towards a future that was completely unknown to us. We had a date. Our itinerary was finalized.
And this is how I felt…
Wait…we’re really moving to SALZURG?!
We actually did it. Buying tickets is no longer on the to-do list. We’ve officially purchased our flights to move to Austria, where traveling Europe is now our reality.
And while this is one of the most exciting decisions we’ve ever made (aside from the whole marriage thing), there are so many mixed emotions involved that I was not prepared for…
July 16th. The day our new life in Austria officially begins.
Having a date makes everything SO real. It’s liberating, exciting, motivating but at the same time scary, nerve-wracking and of course a little sad…
112 days until we say goodbye to our home. Where we’ve grown as a couple for 5 long years.
A place where family is close by and where we get together with friends whenever we want. A place where both of our incomes are steady. Where our biggest worry each night is what we’re eating for dinner (and whose gonna make it). A comfortable life that we’ve worked SO hard for.
Are we really giving that all up?
Yes.
Because it’s not fulfilling us both completely. We don’t feel like settling for a life that’s already decided for us. We’re tired of planning weekends as an escape for the work week. On a mission to feel rejuvenated in 2 days. Ready for Monday – to do it all over. Waiting for vacations to truly feel alive. To feel freedom.
So what happens when you throw away that weekly schedule?
What will life be like without it? Will we flourish with freedom or struggle? Will we feel lost or will we feel found?
I guess we’ll just have to find out!
Now we’re entering the big open world where our future and everything to come is a complete mystery.
Where will we be in a year? Now, I really have no idea! But in a way, I guess that’s the most exciting part of it all.
That is what we wanted, after all, right? Freedom to discover who we want to be. A break from the whirlwind that makes up our every day. A chance to get out there and see what exists beyond our cubicle.
With a date, everything feels different. In a good way, but in a scary way. It’s not all talk anymore.
We are really moving abroad.
Buying tickets is now something in the past. And now it’s time to move forward.
We go from way too much excitement to a serious sense of urgency. These three months are going to fly by, and sooner than we know it, we’ll be hopping on a plane waiting for take-off.
Before then, a lot needs to be done. That’s where the motivation kicks in. We’ve committed, we’ve followed through. Now it’s time to get everything else in order so that our adventure can be everything that we’ve dreamed of and MORE!
BRACE YOURSELF, this is going to be a bumpy ride…
Of course we videotaped this MONUMENTAL experience. So now that you’ve read about how we felt, it’s time to see it for yourself!
